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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. AYTOUN.

CAN.

No. 460,246. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

WITNESSES: INV ENTOR D hi Attorney.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. AYTOUN.

CAN.

Nor 460,246. Patented Sept. 29, 1891.

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FIGJS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES AYTOUN, OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 460,246, dated September 29, 1891. Application filed May 23, 1891. Serial No. 393,820. (No model.) Patented in England July 24, 1890.N0.11,6l)'7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, JAMES AYTOUN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in the cityand county of Edinburgh, Scot-land, have invented a new and useful Improvement in and Relating to Cans, Boxes, and the Like, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 11,607, bearing date July 24, 1890,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin the construction of cans, boxes, and the like; and it consists in forming in any suitable part of the can, box, or the like an exterior corrugation or fold completely encircling any suitable part of the can, box, or the like, the object being to facilitate the opening of the said can, box, or the like without touching the contents thereof with the instrument used for opening the said can, box, or the like or in any way damaging or mangling the contents thereof. To this end I form round the side or sides or the top or bottom of the body of the can, box, or the lik, round the lid thereof, or round the junction of the lid with the body of the can, box, or the like a corrugation or fold projecting outward and completely encircling the said can, box, or the like, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2, Sheet No. 1, are views in side elevation and plan respectively, both partly in section, of a can of the type used for preserved meats embodying my invention; and Fig. 3, Sheet No. 1, is a broken view in sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the corrugation or fold. Figs. at to 13, inclusive, Sheet No. 2, are views in broken sectional elevation of various other forms my invention may assume. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show the corrugation or fold formed on the top edge of a can, box,or the like. Figs. 7 and 8 show the corrugation or fold formed on the lid or cover of the can, box, or the like, the said corrugation or fold being horizontal in Fig. 7 and vertical in Fig. 8. Figs. 9 and 10 show the corrugation or fold formed at the junction of the lid or cover with the body of the can, box, or the like, the soldered junction of the two parts forming the edge or summit of the corrugation or fold. Fig. 11 shows, on an enlarged scale, the method of carrying out my invention when the body of the can, box,'or the like is made of such thick metal that it would be difficult to shear a double thickness thereof. corrugation or fold is made of a thin sheet of metal a, soldered onto the body of the can, box, or the like. Fig. 12 shows an arrangement suitable for sardine-boxes and Fig. 13, an arrangement suitable for paint-cans, the corrugation or fold of the latter being formed in the top or cover, so that when the corrugation or fold is cut off the top becomes available as a lid.

Throughout these several figures A designates the corrugation or fold, the sides of In this case the which are preferably parallel with and in close proximity to one another, so that the edge or summit thereof forms a close fold and the dotted line or on the shearing or cutting line.

To open my improved can, box, or the like the corrugation or fold is sheared, cut, or clipped all round by any suitable form of shears or scissors, thus separating the two parts of the can, box, or the like and allowing them to come apart at the line of shearing or cutting. When an instrument suitable for cutting, shearing, or clipping the corrugation or fold is not at hand, the edge or summit of the corrugation or fold may be filed, ground, or rubbed down either to completely separate the two parts of the corrugation or fold or to only partially separate them to allowof theinsertion of a knife orits equi valent for the purpose of completing the separation of the two parts of the corrugation or fold.

It will be seen that by my invention, as hereinbefore fully described, cans, boxes, and the like can be readily and easily opened with almost any tool or instrument that may be at hand without in any way damaging or mangling the contents thereof.

I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the. precise methods of carrying my invention into practical effect, as hereinbefore set forth, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

l-Iaving now particularly described and as certained the nature of my said invention,

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and in What manner the same is to be per- I cuttingtransverselythrough the cloublethickformed, I declare that what I do claim as my 1 ness of the said fold between its outer edge invention, and desire to secure by Letters and the can substantially as set forth. Patent, is In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed 5 A metallic packing-vessel provided with my name in the presence of two subscribing 15 an endless exterior fold or corrugation A, Witnesses.

consisting of a double thickness of metal JAMES AYTOUN. having flat sides arranged substantially par- Witnesses: allel and in close proximity to each other, the HUGH C. PEACOCK,

10 said vessel being adapted to be opened by NEIL BROWNLEE. 

